Account Manager Scam

Tue Mar 01, 2005 3:36 pm

Just received this info:

The newest scam to hit your email and the Web offers to let you become an "Account Manager" or "Transfer Agent" for a third party, usually someone in an ex-Soviet bloc country. Here's how it works: The scammers try to solicit you through an email or an advertisement on the Web, offering to let you "work from home" and be an Account Manager or "Money Transfer Agent" for them, thus letting you "earn" commissions for your trouble. They then transfer money OUT of an unsuspecting person's account and into yours. Once the money's in your account, they ask you to send the money to them via Western Union. The lure is that they allow you to keep a percentage of the money they've deposited into your account (usually 5%). They sweeten the pot by saying that your fee will grow to 6% and possibly more as you do more money transfers for them.

This scam harms many people, especially consumers whose accounts have money taken from them. If you agree to become an Account Manager for these thieves, you have no idea where the money is coming from or where it's going. It could be used for a variety of purposes, including terrorism. If you're caught, you could face possible legal action. Don't believe any emails or Web advertisements offering to let you earn money by transferring cash.

How do you prevent these scams? If you receive an email or see an advertisement offering to make you an Account Manager so you can "earn money at home" or "start your own home money transfer business," forward it immediately to your local Secret Service office or to its national Financial Crimes Division at 950 H Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20001 or fax to 202-406-5031.

Scam

Wed Mar 02, 2005 12:52 am

On three occasions I received an e-mail from a bank ??, not mine, wanting account inforamtion to update their computers. I forwarded the e-mail to the state attorney general.

Eugene

Fri Mar 04, 2005 7:25 pm

I get those "bank" ones all the time. I just fill them out with a bunch of junk numbers, with names like Howie Feltersnatch and Pat McHunt, or Willie Phisterbottom. Also use Natalie Drest. If the "recipient" speaks English, they'll get a grin......I know I do when I hit the old send key.....